Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking Glass

CHAPTER 8: `It's my own Invention' (continued)

`Not very likely, perhaps,' said the Knight: `but if they DO come, I don't choose to have them running all about.'

`You see,' he went on after a pause, `it's as well to be provided for EVERYTHING. That's the reason the horse has all those anklets round his feet.'

`But what are they for?' Alice asked in a tone of great curiosity.

`To guard against the bites of sharks,' the Knight replied. `It's an invention of my own. And now help me on. I'll go with you to the end of the wood--What's the dish for?'

`It's meant for plum-cake,' said Alice.

`We'd better take it with us,' the Knight said. `It'll come in handy if we find any plum-cake. Help me to get it into this bag.'

This took a very long time to manage, though Alice held the bag open very carefully, because the Knight was so VERY awkward in putting in the dish: the first two or three times that he tried he fell in himself instead. `It's rather a tight fit, you see,' he said, as they got it in a last; `There are so many candlesticks in the bag.' And he hung it to the saddle, which was already loaded with bunches of carrots, and fire-irons, and many other things.

`I hope you've got your hair well fastened on?' he continued, as they set off.

`Only in the usual way,' Alice said, smiling.

`That's hardly enough,' he said, anxiously. `You see the wind is so VERY strong here. It's as strong as soup.'

`Have you invented a plan for keeping the hair from being blown off?' Alice enquired.

`Not yet,' said the Knight. `But I've got a plan for keeping it from FALLING off.'